Uplift projects: Security for foreigners unsatisfactory, says report

Suggests immediate security measures at various projects in Pindi division.

RAWALPINDI:

Police have raised concerns at the security for foreign nationals working at mega construction projects in Rawalpindi division.

Police special branch has found security at seven of the eight sensitive projects “unsatisfactory”.

Rawalpindi police’s special branch presented its report to the Punjab government at a meeting in Lahore on Thursday. The report said that foreign nationals are working at 29 projects in four districts of the division. These projects have been categorised into A+, A, B, and C. It said that the branch has found security at seven of the total eight A and B category sites unsatisfactory. These projects are located in Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal districts.

The report said that a total of 283 recommendations were presented to police and district administrations to ensure security at the sites. The report, however, said that only 10 per cent recommendations had been implemented so far.

It said that most project sites either had no boundary wall or it was in bad condition. There were no close circuit cameras, security checks or search lights at many sites, it said. Further, there have been no emergency drills at the projects.

The report suggested immediate measure to improve security at the sensitive project sites.

The meeting decided that district commissioners and regional police officer will hold meetings and apprise the project administrators about threats.

In case project administrations do not take security measure, the meeting also decided to get written statements from them that they will be responsible if anything happens.

Police high-ups decided to install security cameras, construct boundary walls and barbed wire and depute security staff equipped with metal detectors at all these project sites. They also decided to carry out emergency and fire drills and also install search lights at the sites.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.